view from subway on the way to far rockaway beach aka "frockaway". overground subway was cool.

blister mentioned in previous blog

rat in the subway.

Just wanted to show a few pics. Many more pics are on Facebook, so if you are not a member you should become one [aka, dad] so you can look at my many adventurous pics!

Much love

steph

surprises, blisters and some lessons

So to those of you who have sent me mail [Joseph, Blue, Megan, and Leigh] I just want to take this time to say thank you. It has encouraged me when I really needed it!

So Sunday I dressed up in my vintage dress and part of the awesome outfit is my high heel shoes. BUT after church those shoes were a bad idea because I got some serious, i mean serious blisters on my feet. You may see a few pics on my FB page soon. But right now i am dealing with the consequences of trying to look awesome. (Princess, you would be proud.)

Today on our way back from a field trip run, some of the staff and I stopped at a corner like usual and noticed a group of people gathered right at the corner. I peered through the crowd and noticed a man lying on the ground with a bicycle between his legs. And when the crowd's parted i saw that he was clearly unconscious. Close to his head a puddle of blood began to pour out onto the black tar paved New York City street. His chest was slowly rising and falling. It looked just like a scene from law and order only this scene was real. Evidently this man was on his bike attempting to cross the street and collided with a car. People around said the car drove away. We arrived in the crowd just a few minutes after it happened because emergency people weren't there yet. When I saw this scene, it was as if someone punched me in my stomach and kept my heart from beating. My heart still hurts. Prayers flew up as I knew that was all I could do in that moment. Police officers arrived as we were leaving.

So as much as this situation hurt me, I realized something very enlightening about the human race. So many people say that they have given up on the human race, that people don't care about people and that compassion is no longer present. but after what I saw today I can make a statement against this claim. There was a group of people surrounding this man who was hit. A few who ran down the street and try to find some help, store workers coming out to help. Though this crowd of people probably didn't even know this man, they sacrificed their time, their energy and their well being to be there for him. And clearly they were not leaving. 21st Century good Samaritan? i don't know if that's how to interpret it. But the next time someone tells me not to smile at anyone in ny or not to look anyone in the eye because people here are just mean and rude, i think i will reject that advice. People are good. God created us to be compassionate and to care. and i saw that today. a block from where i live. hopefully you will be more attuned to see it too...

flat bread

I am sitting in my bed on my tie dye sheets enjoying a flatbread and a tea from dunkin donuts. I know i am usually a Krispy Kreme fan, but they just don't have them in the city. I don't usually even like breakfast, but these faltbreads are splendid. Anyways, flatbreads and tea= time for reflection.

Here at Metro, there is a great emphasis on the community, aka, Hell's Kitchen. Kids from the community will be coming to our camps, teens to the teen center and people from the community come to church on Sunday mornings. This past week has been one of preparation for camp. We have been doing a lot of computer work, a few field trip runs, and some major organizing. And what i have noticed from all that is that by walking outside in the mornings, I don''t meet the community and by going out to dinner at night, I am not able to make any long standing stable relationships. So far, I haven't seen anyone on the street that I knew or even recognized. Basically, my point of reflection is that to build community, every single action must be intentional. If I want to get to know people, I am going to have to go into the same shop every day at the same time and make conversation with the same people. Because otherwise there is just a sea of unrecognizable faces.

But, the good thing about this church is that it is a meeting place for the community. Based on what I have heard, after camp starts, I will recognize some of the parents on the street. And I am just waiting for the day that I see a church member walking along time square. I think i would run and hug them. Just for the joy of familiarity.

Speaking of the familiar, I miss it. I have been experiencing so many awesome things without the people I want to experience them with, which is sad. But the interns and staff here are begining to get much closer and are becoming, in small ways, the familar.

In other news, last night I went on my first city excursion by myself. Yes, i know many at home think it is super dangerous, but it is not. And it was daytime for the most part. But I rode the subway and walked around, did a little window shopping and came back all without getting lost or turned around [a bought a map yesterday as well, btw]

And the most recent news is that last night, or should i say, this morning I went with my roomate Emily [a disney fanatic] to stalk the Jonas Brothers. So from 3-6 am I was standing outside the trump tower with 50 teenage girls. And I saw the brothers, got a few pics, but honestly wouldn't know them if i saw them on the street.

This morning we woke up and stood in line to get $31.50 tickets to see Chicago. The main reason i care is because Chandra Wilson from Grey's is in it. I'll post some pics soon.

So for those of you who check this, sorry for the lack of updating. I get busy and tend to like to have reflection time alone. Alone time is hard to find with 2 roomates, and 5 other hallmates and 15-20 youth on the floor at any given time.

Much Love. Send me mail

Steph

a short hello

I hope you like this short video from NYC. Just thought it would be fun.

Love

Steph

I'm Here

Well, here i am in NYC. I have 2 roomates so far. Tonight we have a short orientation then dinner on the roof. THE ROOF. My favorite place so far! and i took some pics from the roof so you could see

.

and here is my bed.

and my roomates beds

so thats it. just thought you'd like to see a little bit of whats going on!

Steph

twas the night b4 new york...

Here it is. in less than 24 hours i will be in a city that doesn't sleep. and how exactly am I feeling you ask? Well its somewhere between excited and scared. Maybe "scexcited." Well after typing that it looks like something dirty. Regardless, the point is that I am having emotions. Surprised? I am packing everything up thinking that i could just not go and be ultra comfortable here in Winston-Salem all summer and save the Baptists money and everything. but then i think that disobedience=death! Haha, just kidding, but seriously.

I am ready. I have been. Rachel called me today and told me that she says she thinks that I am completely capable. WHICH WAS ENCOURAGING. sometimes i forget how important it is to hear encouragment from my sisters in Christ. But I am holding on to those words. I am also holding on to these words from Psalm 16. This is from the message and it is beautiful.

*My choice is You God, first and only. And now I find I'm Your choice. You set me up with a house and a yard. And then You made me Your heir. The wise counsel God gives while I am awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I'll stick with God. I've God a good think going here and I'm not letting go. Now You've got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of Your face. Ever since You took my hand, I'm on the right way*

Take that for what its worth. I am in a good place. I have peace. I will be holding on to God's hand as we walk through the crowded streets of NYC looking into the eyes of people...people who need someone to hold their hand too.

see you in new york

(thats hebrew for good evening)

Love
Stephanie

One Week till NYC

This is the begining of my blog. This is the begining of my summer. But really, I have done a whole lot so far this summer. Which I will share, so you can know where I am and what in the world i am doing right now.

1) I attended graduation. Watched some of my best friends walk across the stage of accomplishment knowing that I might never be the same without them constantly in my life.

2) I became a senior. scary i know.

3) I visited some museums and family in Washington DC on a mini road trip with my bff.

4) I visited my dearest friend Carmen on a road trip with my RA tara. [jk tara, u my dearest friend too...lol]

5) Went to Richlands to see the Howards and had a wonderful time eating some homecooked meals, compliments on Donna.

6) Went to summer missionary training. Pretty long, but made some friends, so overall, good. Also said peace out to tara while i was there and she was traveling to Texas.

7) Got an abnormal growth on the roof of my mouth. Prescription mouthwash not helping. eek.

8) Hung out with Jami before she went to snow camp

9) Spent time with the fam and homebodies as always

10) and watched season 3 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Amazingly wonderful

So thats whats been going on. In the midst of all of this I have been praying, reading and doing my best to prepare for NYC. Not exactly sure whats in store, but I am looking forward to leaving. Hopefully I will keep this blog deal as current as possible for you people who like to know about all the crazy stuff I do with my life. This is for you. Thanks for reading and keep tuning in...

GIGATT
Steph